Electric apparatus for heating and vaporizing hydrocarbon fuels



E. SASLOW. ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND VAEQBIZINB HYDROCARBON FUELS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I5, 920. v 1,347,177. I Patented July 20, 1920.

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PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD SASLOW, 0F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND VAPORIZING HYDROCARBON FUELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed February 16, 1920. Serial No. 358,994;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD SASLOW, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, haye invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electric Apparatus for Heating and vaporizing l-lydrocarbon Fuels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for heating and vaporizing combustible gas or charges as the same is supplied to the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines, and while it is more particularly intended for use in connection with said type of engines when used for propelling automobiles, auto-trucks, aeroplanes and the like, yet, it is applicable for use in connection with explosive engines to be used for general purposes, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, combination and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

As is well known to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, it is very desirable in order to obtain the highest efficiency from engines of the type above mentioned and to quickly or instantly start the same, that, the intake gases or combustible mixtures from the carbureter shall be supplied to the cylinders in a heated condition and at as nearly a constant degree of temperature as possible, and the principal object of my invention, is, to provide electrically operated means for directly and instantly heating the combustible charges in their passage to the cylinders from a supply thereof, or from the carbureter, or for accomplishing the above named desired object by means of an inexpensive, practical, easily operated and highly efficient device or apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby heavy fuel oil, such as kerosene, or the lighter oil, gasolene, may be utilized for the production of an explosive mixture of high efficiency in respect to economy, power and flexibility.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the following description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawing which serves Lao illustrate an embodiment of the inven- Figure l is a view in side elevation of the device showing it applied to a conduit, such as a part of a manifold, leading from a supply of gas, or a carbureter, to the combustion chamber of an engine. A

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direc tion of the arrows and showing diagrammatically, the electric connections of the device, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heating cylinder and its resistance coil, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the different .views of the drawing.

The reference numeral 5 designates a portion of a manifold or any other suitable conduit, used for conveying the explosive mixture from a carbureter to the combustion chamber of an engine and as shown, is provided in its wall with a screw-threaded opening 6 to receive the externally screw-threaded tubular or cylindrical container 7, which is provided in its outer end with a detachable and hollow plug 8 which has in its head 9' a centrally disposed opening 10 leading to the cavity of the plug 8 and container. The opposite end of the container '7 is provided with an opening 11 and in its wall near said end with openings 12 and 13, which openings are diametrically disposed. Located in the opening 10 of the head 9 of the plug, is a binding post 14 which is insulated by fiber 15 from the head and has on its inner end a head 16 between which and the head 9 is located a disk 17 of mica.

Securely fitted in the plug 8 is a fire-proof housing or cylinder 18 of mica which extends from the disk 17 toward the opposite end of the container 7, but by preference terminates short of said end as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Located at one of its ends on the head 16 of the post 14 is a resistance wire coil 19 which has its other end connected to a binding post 20 located in the opening 12 of the container and access to which can be had by means of a screw driver extended through the opening 13 of the container. An electric conductor 21 is connected at one of its ends to the post 14 and at its other end to a battery 22 located at any suitable point on the automobile or vehicle.

Leading from the other pole of the battery is a conductor 23 which is grounded to the machine and is provided with a switch 24 of the ordinary or any preferred construction, which may be conveniently mounted on thedash board or otherwise and used for turning on and shutting off the electric current.

The container 7 may be provided with a small opening 25 located in communication with the atmosphere for the purpose of preventing a partial vacuum being formed in the container by the passage of the mixture through the" conduit to the combustion chamber of the engine. The container may also have fitted thereon a lock-nut 26 for more securely holding it in place.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the explosive mixture will be vaporized and preheated as it is supplied to the explosive chamber, thus causing the engine to be instantly started even in the coldest weather and to operate to the best advantage.

By my improvements it is manifest that the fluid mixture will be heated by the direct contact thereof with the device, which will be heated as soon as the current is turned on, and that the time consumed in heating the manifold and through it the mixture, will be saved. Furthermore, the heat thus applied will vaporize the mixture to such an extent, or in such a way, that its combustion will be more perfect, thus preventing accumulation of carbon on the cylinders and valves of the engine and besides effecting a considerable saving in fuel.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a conduit adapted for the passage of explosive mixture, of a container extended thereinto and having an opening in its inner portion and another opening externally of the conduit, a resistance coil supported within the container and having one of its ends insulated therefrom, an electric circuit connected to said end of said coil and a switch in said circuit.

2.- In a device of the class described, the combination with a conduit adapted for the passage of explosive mixture, of a container extended thereinto and having an opening in its inner end, a resistance coil supported within the container and having one of its ends insulated therefrom, an electric circuit connected to said end of said coil, a switch in said circuit, and a cylindrical housing of fire-proof material sup ported around the resistance coil and within the container.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a conduit adapted for the passage of explosive mixture, of a container extended thereinto and having an opening in its inner portion and a small opening in its outer portion, a resistance coil supported within the ,container and having one'of its ends insulated therefrom, an electric circuit connected to said'end of said coil, a switch in said circuit, and a cylinder of mica surrounding the resistance coil and mounted ithin saidcontainer In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, on this, the 10th day of February, A. D., 1920, at Muskegon, Michigan.

EDWARD SASLOVV. 

